Taxes in Reston
Virginia's near-flat 5.75% income tax applies to Reston residents the same as anywhere else in the state, and because Reston has no town or city government of its own, it uses Fairfax County's combined 6.0% sales tax rate and FY2026 real estate tax rate ($1.1225 per $100 of assessed value) directly -- separate from, and in addition to, the mandatory Reston Association assessment, which is a private HOA fee, not a tax.
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Learn moreVirginia's income tax -- restated as place-level context
Virginia applies a four-bracket schedule (2% on the first $3,000, 3% on $3,001-$5,000, 5% on $5,001-$17,000, 5.75% above $17,000) that functions as a near-flat 5.75% tax for most working filers, since the top bracket starts at just $17,000. Social Security is fully exempt at any age; filers 65+ can claim an age deduction of up to $12,000, phased out above $50,000 (single) / $75,000 (married) federal AGI.
No separate municipal tax layer -- but a real, separate HOA assessment applies
Because Reston is unincorporated Fairfax County with no town or city government, it has no additional municipal real estate or sales tax layer -- the county's own combined 6.0% sales tax and FY2026 real estate tax rate ($1.1225/$100) apply directly. This is genuinely different from the mandatory Reston Association annual assessment ($848, FY2025), which is a private HOA fee funding community amenities, NOT a government tax -- worth distinguishing clearly when budgeting.
Fairfax County's real estate tax on genuinely high-value Reston property
Given Reston's genuinely high property values (see housing-market), real estate tax bills run substantial in absolute dollar terms even at the county's standard rate, on top of the separate RA assessment (and, for many homes, a second HOA fee).
No state estate or inheritance tax
Virginia does not levy a state estate tax or inheritance tax, though residents with sufficiently large estates may still owe the federal estate tax.
Key takeaways
- Virginia's near-flat 5.75% income tax applies uniformly to Reston residents.
- Reston has no separate municipal tax layer -- Fairfax County's combined 6.0% sales tax and FY2026 real estate tax rate ($1.1225/$100) apply directly.
- The mandatory Reston Association assessment ($848/year, FY2025) is a private HOA fee, NOT a government tax -- budget for it separately.
- Virginia levies no state estate or inheritance tax.
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